The Unmanned Power-To-Methanol production (UP-TO-ME) project is officially at the halfway point of the 36-month journey, and we’re proud to say the first litres of methanol have been produced using the UP-TO-ME technology.
UP-TO-ME is an EU funded project under the Horizon Europe framework (GA no. 101083323), which aims to develop an innovative technology to produce methanol as a clean fuel for marine vessels. The project aims to significantly reduce the contribution of CO2 emissions from the maritime industry, bringing us one step closer in the journey to a net-zero EU economy.
The concept involved in UP-TO-ME presents a revolutionary change in decentralised Power-To-Methanol production for hard to electrify applications, such as marine vessels. Furthermore, the project will develop the first unmanned, fully automated, and self-optimising technology to convert decentralised CO2 point sources to production sites for renewable fuels.
Project Success
Recently the KIT team produced the first litres of methanol using the UP-TO-ME technology. The methanol has been distilled to a purity of 96%, and the proud fathers of this achievement Mücahit, Mohit and Max are extremely happy with the progress they have made in the project.
The UP-TO-ME Characters
In April 2023 the UP-TO-ME project launched its online website presenting the first introduction to the UP-TO-ME characters, Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.
The characters are the protagonists of the project explainer video launched in January 2024.
How are the UP-TO-ME characters utilised in the project?
Within the UP-TO-ME project the team will capture and store CO2 whilst generating green hydrogen
(H2) from water (H2O) using renewable energy. Subsequently, this green H2 will be combined with CO2 to produce methanol. Additionally, the oxygen (O2) generated from H2O electrolysis will then have the potential to be supplied to the aeration system of a wastewater treatment plant.
This UP-TO-ME process is carried out with the automated, unmanned technology that will be tested during the project. The smart full automation, self-optimisation and remote monitoring will enable dynamic off-grid operation of this Power-to-Methanol plant.
The UP-TO-ME characters present their roles in the project explainer video that was recently launched by ISLE, leaders of the dissemination, communication and exploitation activities included in the project.
Project Collaboration
The UP-TO-ME project is formed by a consortium of seven expert organisations all based around Europe. In November 2023 the project team attended a two-day General Assembly meeting at KIT’s facilities. This meeting allowed all members of the consortium to present the progress they have made since the project started and see the UP-TO-ME technology in action.
At this consortium meeting, project partners visited the 3D-printer that is used in the UP-TO-ME project. 3D-printing as a manufacturing technology allows vast freedom in design. Recently these technologies have been used to manufacture intricate micro reactors for the chemical industry. These 3D-printed reactors have also been used in more demanding conditions such as methane reforming.
The UP-TO-ME project aims to utilise 3D-printing and computer aided design to create methanol synthesis reactors with novel channel geometries tailored for specific catalyst deposition strategies.
Throughout the 2nd half of the project, the project partners will continue meeting, including on-line and in-person consortium meetings, to ensure the project meets its objectives and the technology is utilised effectively.
Stay tuned to all the UP-TO-ME project updates by visiting our project website and following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
